Joan Capdevila to be NorthEast United's marquee player in ISL

Kolkata: World Cup 2010 and European 2008 Championship winner and Spanish defender Joan Capdevila will be the marquee player of the NorthEast United Football Club for the inaugural season of Indian Super League.

Joan Capdevila

Capdevila, who marshalled the left back position for the La Roja, was a prominent member of the sides that won both the World Cup in 2010 and European Championship in 2008.

He has played over 400 games with 36 goals in the Spanish La Liga for big guns like Espanyol, Athletico Madrid, Deportivo, and Villarreal.

Capdevilla last season played for La Liga Club, Espanyol.

He expressed his delight on signing for NorthEast United FC, the ISL franchise in a statement.

"At this stage, after winning everything to be won a new challenge was needed. After speaking to John Abraham about the way he is passionately looking to promote football in India and the project of NorthEast United FC, it excited me to take up this challenge.

"India is a huge country and it should be a privilege for me to be a small part in popularising this global game here and working with the young talented footballers of northeast India," he said.

NorthEast United FC co-owner John Abraham said the club was very excited after roping in Capdevilla as the marquee player.

"We are confident that his achievements in the game and his presence in our team will motivate our younger Indian players and his inputs would help us build a strong team," he said.

Abraham said he had spoken to the player when he was in Brazil recently.

"I got a sense of his passion for the game and especially his excitement for joining our team was motivational and unparalleled. We look forward to his arrival in India."

The ISL in its maiden edition is scheduled to run for two months beginning September. It features eight city-based franchises.